Bathtub inclosure



all'fih 3935- J. H. SUNDSTROM BATHTUB INCLOSURE Filed A ril 21, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l z m m m MMAMY /M March 19, 1935.

J. H. SUNDSTROM BATHTUB INCLOSURE Filed April 21, 1933 2 Sheets$heet 2 Patented Mar. 19, 1935 UNITE l.-- STATES PAENr OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to an inclosure for plumbing fixtures, such as bathtubs and the like, which can be economically constructed and readily applied to the fixture to thereby modernize and improve the appearance of the fixture.

An object of the present invention is to provide an inclosurefor a plumbing fixture of the type having an external rim orflange along its upper edge, suchinclosure including attaching means retained in place against the under side of said flange, and sheet material secured to said attaching means and extending between the flange and the floor. V

Another object of this invention is to provide an inclosure for a bathtub of the type having a hollow external flange along ,the upper edge thereof, wherein attaching means is arranged to extend along within the recess of said flange and is retained in such recess by spaced posts which are adjustable in length, and wherein sheet material forming a panel or skirt is arranged between the flange and the floor and is secured to said attaching means. r

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved bathtub inclosure, of the type referred to, comprising a panel or skirt formed from sheet material, and attaching means for the panel, and wherein the attaching means is arranged to extend along the underside of the flange of the tub and along the floor below said flange, and wherein spaced posts are provided having a pivotal connection with one of'said attaching means and a screw thread connection with the other attaching'means whereby the attaching means may be spread apart and the upper attaching means wedged against the flange of the tub.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved inclosure for a bathtub, having an external flange extending along its upper edge and disposed in spaced relation to a wall, wherein cover means is provided for the space between the flange and the wall comprising a shelf having one edge supported by thewall and its outer edge reduced in thickness and overlying the flange, and a waterproof covering for the shelf having a portion extending beyond the reduced edge of the shelf and overlying the flange.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings wherein, r

Fig. 1' is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, showing my improved inclosure applied to the'bathtub. V

shouldbe understood, however,

Fig. 2 is a sectional-plan view taken substantially as indicated by line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial transverse sectional view taken substantially as indicated by liner33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the cover shelf. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are ferent installations of closing means. I 7

Fig.8 is a partial plan View, with parts broken away, showing a detail of construction, and

my improved bathtub 'inplan views illustrating'difl Fig. 9 is a partial elevational view of such de--. l I

tall, with parts broken away.

In the accompanying drawings, to which detailed reference will now be made,.-I have shown an inclosure'for plumbing fixtures which can be economically constructed and readily installed for improving or modernizing the appearance of bathtubs or other fixtures. Although I have illustrated in the drawings, what I now regard to be the preferred forms of that the inven-; tion is not to be regarded as limited'in scope to the particular details of, construction and -arrangements of parts herein disclosed, but may be embodied in various arrangementsand may .be applied to various types of fixtures.

i As will be explained more fully hereinafter, my inventioncontemplates the provision of a skirt vorpanel, which is disposed between the floor and theexternal marginal flange of a bathtub, and which extends along or follows the general outline demarked by the flange. Thatis to say, the skirt extends along the perimeter of the tub, or atleast along that extent of the perimeter of the tub which is not too close to a wall, or other structure, to permit the, skirt being installed.v When a portion of the perimeter of the bathtub is in close proximity to a wall, or other structure, my invention contemplates the provision of a cover shelf extending along such portion or portions of the tub. My invention also contemplates the provision of a removable cover or panel section for exposed pipe connections, which may have the appearance of being a part of the inclosing skirt but which is removable to permit access to the piping. a

In Figs. 1 to 5 of the. drawings, I have shown a plumbing fixture 10, in this instance a bathtub, which is disposed adjacent a vertical wall 11 and to which my improved inclosure has been applied. The bathtub is of a typewhich is still extensivelyused in homes and hotels andis here, shown as having a roll rimoformed by an external hollow flange 13 extendingalong the upper'edge of the my invention, it,

7 type, I have shown the tub 10 as having supporting means thereunder, such as the legs 14, by means of which the tub is supported upon the floor 15.

For the purpose of better understanding the invention, it is explained at this point thatmy improved tub inclosure is intended to be applied to previously installed bathtubs, of the type just described, without moving or disconnecting the tub. The inclosure is assembled or built up around the tub by arranging the various parts of the inclosure in their respective relative positions, as illustrated in the drawings and as 6X1- plained more fully hereinafter. When installed, the inclosure constitutes a permanent part of the bathtub installation and imparts to this fixture the characteristics of the more: modern built-in bathtubs.

In Fig. of the drawings I have illustrated one condition which may be encountered in installing my improved inclosures, namely the condition wherein the .tub is arranged with the I longitudinal sideflfi thereof disposed in adjacent relation to the surface of the wall 11, and with its outer side 17 and its ends 18 and 19 exposed,

or 'inxother words, 'not. having a wall in close proximity thereto. My improved inclosure, which will now be described in detail, is illustrated in Figs. l to 4 inclusive as the form of inclosure which would be applied to a bathtub occupying the relative position illustrated in Fig. 5.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and3 of the drawings, the skirt or verticalwall portion of the inclosure, which extends along theexposed outer side and along the exposed ends of the tub, is arranged with its upper edge connected tothe lateral flange 13 of the tub; To establish this connection I provide blocks 20 which are spaced-along the external flan'g'eof the tub and are shaped to fit into the recess of the under side of the flange. These'blo cks may be formed of wood or of any other appropriate material. For retaining the blocks in positionagainst the under side of the flange; I provide an upright post 21 for each block. Theseposts are provided at the upper end thereof with a threaded stem 22 which engages in a threaded opening provided in the blocks and, at their lower end, are provided with a plain stem =,or.-pivot portion 23 which engages in a suitable recess. The recesses "for the pivot portions of the" posts may be formed in the floor 15, but I prefer to locate them in attaching strips which are secured to the floor. These attaching strips extend along the floor beneath the external flange of the tub and, as shown in Fig. 2, of the drawings, may comprise one or more straight sections 25 located below the flange ofthe longitudinal outer side 17 of the tub, and a plurality of rounded sections 26 arranged in end to end relation below the flange-at the ends of the tub.

Theblocks 20 and the posts therefor may be provided in any desired number along the edges of the: bathtub and, as shown in Fig. 2, they are arranged-in suitably spaced relation along the exposed'front and end edges of the tub. When the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings the blocks '20 can be wedged upwardly into engagement with the under side of the flange of the tub" by rotating the posts in a direction to cause an unscrewing between the posts'and their respective blocks. In other words, by rotating the posts 21 the blocksarecaused to move upwardly away. from the attaching strips 1 25am 26lwhereby thesest'rips are forced downthe quarter-round As shown in wardly against the floor and the blocks are forced upwardly into the recess of the tub flange.

If desired, the blocks 20 may be made to extend along the rim of the tub for a considerable distance so as to serve as an attaching means for the sheet material forming the skirt or panel portion 2'? of the inclosure but, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, I prefer to form the blocks with step-cut ends and to provide attaching strips 28, which may be generally similar in shape to the strips'25 and 26, and which extend along beneaththe flange of the tub and have their ends secured to the step-cut ends of the blocks. The blocks and the attaching strips 28 thus provide a substantially continuous attaching means extending along immediately beneath .the external flange of the tub, and the strips 25 and 26, which are secured to the floor, provide a. substantially continuous lower attaching means extending along the floor and conforming substantially in outline withthe upper attaching means. r

-The skirt or pa'nel portion 2'7 of the inclosure comprises sheet material which, as shown in Figs.

1 and'3 of the'drawings, is arranged in upright" relation to extend betweenthe flange of the tub and the floor, and which follows or extends along the desiredportion of the perimeterof the'tub. This sheet material may be formed of any appropriate suhstancefas for example vulcanized rubber, composition, wood, fiber or sheet metal. The sheet material used for the panel portion of the inclosure should preferably be of a flexible character so that it can be readily bent to conform to the curved outline provided at the ends I? of the tub by the upper and lower attaching strips. It is not altogether necessary however that the sheet material be of flexible character since, in some instances, the curved sections of the panel may be moldedorotherwise preformed to the desired curvedshape. v

The panel portion of the inclosure is arranged against the upper and lower attaching strips, as

shown in the drawings, and is secured alongits edges to these attaching strips by suitablemeans such as screws, nails, or other attaching devices; After'the panel portions have been thus securedin place, along'the perimeter, or a portion of the perimeter, of the tub; suitable moldings such assecured in place so as toextend along adjacent the upper and lower edges of the panelportion. These moldings give the inclosure a neat and finished appearance and also provide a border for the panel portion.

Fig. 5 of the drawings, and as explained above, one side of the tub, for ex ample the side 1'6, may be in close proximity to the wall '11, thereby making it impossible to extend the panel portion of the inclosure aleng the back-of the tub and, to provide a clesure for the narrow, space or opening between the back of the tub and the wall, I provide the laterally extending cover or shelf 30K This cover extends along that portion of the perimeter of the tub from which the panel portion of the inclosure is omitted, or in other words, between the ends 31 and 32 of the panel portion. The cover ay consist of a board or shelf 33', havingone edge thereof extending along the wall ll and supported on angle brackets 34 secured to the wall, and having its other or outeredge overlying the flange 13 of the tub. The edge of the shelf which overlies the flange of the tub is taperedin thick ness, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the-top sun.

moldings 29 and 30 may be 5 iii This cover may also be provided with a waterproof layer or sheet 35 of vulcanized rubber or other suitable material, which extends over the top surface of the shelf, and which also extends beyond the tapered outer edge of. the shelf and overlies the flange of the tub. This overlying portion of the layer 35 is preferably tapered'to a thin edge so as to closely hug the surface of the flange and, if desired, may be cemented to the flange. If desired, a suitable molding 36, may be arranged to extendalong in the corner formed between the shelf and the wall so as to secure the layer 35 in place and give a finished appearancetothe inclosure. I

' For concealing the brackets 34 and the ends of the shelf 33, the waterproof layer 35 may be arranged to extend or hang down at the ends of the shelf in in Fig. 4.

It is not unusual for bathtubs, of the type to whichmyinclosure is to be applied, to have exposed piping connected thereto at one end, such as the hot and cold water supply pipes 34 and 35 and the drain pipe 36' represented in Fig. 2, and for'concealing these exposed pipes, I provide a hollow cover 37' which may be constructed from sheet metal or any other suitable material, and which'is removably secured in place'around the pipes andbetween spaced sections of 'the panel portion of the inclosure. This removable cover is preferably rounded inform as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and is constructed of such height that it extends between the floor and the flange of the tub and, when in place, presents the appearance of a smooth bulge in the inclosure; If desired, this cover may be formed with flanges 38 at the edgesthereof and may be removably secured in place by suitable attaching devices extending through these flangesinto the attaching strips the form of the flap 37 illustrated '26 and 28. This cover may also be provided at the lower edge thereof with anintegral molding portion 39 which appears to be a continuation of the molding 30 when the cover is the pipes. v i

In Figs. 6 and '7 of the drawings, I have shown other conditions which may be encountered when my improved inclosure is to be applied to previously installed bathtubs. In Fig. 6 I have illustrated the condition wherein a bathtub 40 has been installed with the front 41 and the end 42 thereof in relatively exposed positions, but with in place around the rear side 43 and round end 44 thereof in close proximity to the respective wall surfaces 45 and 46. In applying my improved inclosure to a bathtub installation of this kind, I construct the inclosure with panel sections extending along the front edge 41 and around the end 42, which sections are substantially identical with the corresponding sections already described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, A removable cover 47, similar to the cover 3'7 of Figs.

. 1 and 2, may be provided around the exposed piping connected to the end 42 of the tub. Along the edges 43 and 44 which are in close proximity to the walls 45 and 46 I provide the cover shelf 48; 7 This shelf extends along the back of the tub and also across the end 44 thereof and, aside from the fact that the shelf extends across the end of the tub as well as along the back thereof, it is identical in construction with the cover shelf 30 illustrated in Figs. 2 and of the drawings.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings I have illustrated the condition wherein the previously installedtub 50 is arranged in a wall'recess with only the front edge 51 thereof in an'exposed condition. In other words the rear'ofthe tub 52,?and the ends 53 and 54 are disposed in close proximity to the vertical side walls of the recess. In constructing my inclosure for/a tub arranged in this position I provide a panel section along the front edge 51 'of the tub, similar to'the panel section provided along the front edge of the tub installation illus trated in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings. Along-the edges 52,, 53 and 54 of the tub I provide a cover shelf 55 which is similar inconstruction to the cover shelf 30' shown in Fig. 2. In this arrangement the portion of the cover shelf adjacent-the end 53 of the tub is disposed above the pipe connections for the tub and, to afford access to-these pipe connections, I provide a removable section or door 56 in the front panel portion of the in closure, such section or door being located below the cover shelf 55. V

As shown in Figs.'6 and 70f the drawings, the panel portion of the inclosure extending along the front of the tub is extended beyond one or both of the endsof the tub and over to the adjacent side wall. Since the attaching means for the upper edge of the panel portionis disposed in the recess of the flange of the tub itwill be seen that provision must be made for extending tub 'so-that the sheet material forming the panel sections 57 can be secured thereto. To this end- I construct the block 58 with a curved recess 59 therein which receives the edge of the flange of the tub when-the, block is held upwardly against the flange by means of the post 60. When the block is thus held in position the end 61 of the block lies in the recess of the tub' rim and the end 62 of the block lies outside of the rim recess. The block itself may be made long enough to ex tend over and be connected to the-adjacent wall or, if desired, a suitable attaching strip 63 may be secured to the end 62 of the block and may extend over to the adjacent wall of the tub recess; The sheet material forming the panel section 5'7 may be a continuation of the panel section extending along the front of the tub and may be secured strip 63.

' The portion of the block 62whichprojects beyond the rim of the tub is preferably recessedat its top, as shown inFig. 9, to receive the cover shelf 64 and so that the top surface of the cover shelf will be substantially tangent to thetop surface of the tub flange. r r I As explained in connection with thecover shelf 48, the cover shelf shown in Figs. 6 and 7 may also be'provided with a waterproof covering 65 of vulcanized rubber 'or other suitable material, which extends over the top surface of the cover shelf and engages the rim of the tub. From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings it will now be readily'seen that I have" provided an' improved inclosure for a along its'upper. edge to the attaching bathtub, or other plumbing fixture, which can be economically constructed and readily applied to the fixture without disconnecting'or moving the fixture; This improved inclosure imparts to especially desirable in the 'bathrooms-of'homes and hotels but which heretofore has been unattainable for the older types of-bathtubs. My improved .inclosure renders theseiolder types of bathtubs similar in appearance fto the more modern built-in tubs, and also provides ;a sanitary 'inclosing means which conceals the piping and eliminates much'ofthe difficult cleaning work heretofore required around bathtubs.

While I have illustrated and. described the improved inclo'sure of my invention ina detailed mannenit should be understood that I do not intend to be'limited to the precise details of con-: structionand arrangements of parts illustrated and described, but consider my invention as including such changes and modifications ascome withinthe spirit of the invention and the scope of theappended claims. I 2 Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. An inclosure for a plumbingfixture of the type :having means thereunder for supporting thefixture on a floor and also having a lateral external flange extending along its upper edge, comprising means extending between said flange and o the floor and retained in place by wedgingengagement thereof with the floor and the under side of said flange, and sheet material attached toosaid means, V I 2. An inclosure for abathtub of thetype having means thereunder for supporting the tub on a floor and also having a hollow rim extending along itsupper-edge, comprising attaching means disposed in the recess of said rim, means extendingbetween the floor and said attaching means for retaining the latter in the rim recess, and a panel extending between said rim and the floor and secured to said attaching means.

.3. The combination with a bathtub having a hollow rim extending along its upper edge, of attaching means extending along in the recess of said hollowrim, means extending-between the floor-and said attaching means for retaining the latter in saidrecess, and flexible sheet material disposed in upright relation be-' tween the hollow rim and the floor, said-sheet material being arranged to extend along said rim and being secured to said attaching means.

4. The combinationwith a bathtub having a lateralv flange extendingalong the upper edge thereof, of attaching means extending along said flange and engaging the under side thereof, attaching means on the floor disposed below and conforming substantially in outline with the first mentioned attaching means, means extending between the lower and upper attaching .means for holding the latterin engagement with said flange, and flexible sheet material arranged between said flange and the floor and secured to the upper and lower attaching means.

5. The combinationwith a bathtub having a lateral flange extending along the upper edge thereof, of attaching means extending along said flange and engaging the under side thereof, at

taching means on the floor disposed below and conforming substantially in outline with the first mentioned attaching means, spaced posts extending between the lower and upper attaching means for holding the latter against said flange, and sheet material arranged between said flange and the floor and secured to the upper and lower attaching means.

' -6.- The combination with-abathtub having a lateral flange extending ,along the uppe edge thereof, of attaching means extending along said flange and engaging the -underside thereof, 7 at:

taching means on the floor disposed below and conforming substantially in outline with the first mentioned attachingmeans, spaced posts extending between-the lower and u per attaching means, means for lengthening said; posts whereby theupper and lower attachingmeans are spread apart and the upper attaching means is held against said flange, andsheet material arranged between'said flange and the floor-and secured to the-upper and lower attaching means.

'7. The combinationwith a bathtub having means thereunder for supporting the .tub on a floor and ,also having a lateral flange extending along theupper edge thereof of attaching means extending alonggsaid flange and engag ing the under side thereof, attaching means on the floor disposed below and conforming substantiallyin outline with the first mentioned attaching means,- spacedposts extending between the lower and upper attaching means for hold ing the latter against said flange, said posts having-one end thereofpivoted on one of said attaching means and having" at the-otherenda screw-thread connection with the other attaching means, wherebyupon-rotation of the posts the upper attaching means is pressed against said flange,.ancl sheet material arranged between said flange and the, floorand-secured to said attaching means.

, 8. In combinationwith a bathtub means thereunder forsvupporting the same on a floor and also having a. hollow roll rim extending along its upperedge, an inclosureextending along the side ofthe tub between saidrim and the floor and comprising a pluralityo f members spaced along said rim'and' shapedto engage in the recess in the ;undersidepf the rim, a plurality ofposts having their lower-ends pivoted at the floor and; their; upper ends threaded into said members whereby upon rotation of theposts said membersare wedged against said rim, attaching strips secured to said spaced members and extending between said posts beneath. said rim,.other attaching strips secured. to the flo or between said posts, andsheet material disposed outwardly of said posts and secured to'said attaching strips. o o i 9. An inclosure for a bathtub, of the type having exposed. pipeconnectionsthereon and also having a hollow external flange alongitsupper edge, comprising panelsections disposed on op-- posite sides of said piping and exten ding along the side ofthe tub between the'floor and said flange andhavingtheir upper edges disposed in the recess of the flange, andfa rem ovable hollow cover extending around said piping outwardly thereof, said cover being arranged between said panel sections and betweensaid flange and the; floor. 1 I Y 10. An vinclosure adapter for modernizing plumbing fixtures of the type having a lateral external flange thereon, com-prisingan upright framework extending betweensaid flange and the floor, and sheet material attached to said framework adjacent said flange and adjacent the floor., 1. v JOHN-H. SUNDSTRQM, 

